Salvation Army and Elks team for Thanksgiving meals

NEWARK – Despite being homeless because of family issues, Gina Dudley and her daughter Rachyl, 13, said they still had a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

They were grateful for the Licking County Salvation Army giving them a place to stay, help in finding a new home, warm winter coats and a hot holiday meal.

“Everybody needs to eat and everybody needs to be warm,” Gina said of the importance to the community of the Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving event.

Usually, about 250 meals are served and 100 coats are given out annually, Salvation Army Volunteer Coordinator Kaye Hartman said. In the past, the organization has teamed with the Look Up Center to deliver meals to shut-ins, as well. The Look Up Center was unable to participate this year, but that didn’t mean those who couldn’t get out wouldn’t have a traditional meal, too.

Skip Salome and his family has organized a Christmas dinner since 2007 at the Newark Elks Lodge. Salome said when Hartman asked for his help with doing the Thanksgiving deliveries he didn’t hesitate to jump in and neither did 12 family members.

Salome’s grandson, Ty Pangborn, 12, washed dishes in the Elks kitchen. He said his grandfather has always pressed upon him the importance of helping others and his community.

“There’s a lot of people in this world that don’t have as much as we do. So, I wanted to give back to them,” Pangborn said.

Salome said he had about 250 volunteers help with setup Wednesday night and delivering meals Thursday to approximately 490 people. He said 31 turkeys were cooked.

Dustin and Cindy Neely, of Newark, said they heard about the charitable effort through Spring Hills Baptist Church where they attend. They volunteered to deliver meals to illustrate to their daughters Madyson, 10, and Abygail, 9, what the holiday should be about.

“It’s the right thing to do. It’s spreading the message of Christ,” Dustin said. “We’re blessed and we want to go out to people who are older in age, who don’t have anyone to come to them, pray with them, take them food and let them know someone still cares.”

Brigitte Thomson, of Newark, was out to volunteer with her husband and three of their six children. The kids gleefully snapped selfies in line as they waited to find out where they would be delivering meals to and getting the food. They attend Vineyard Grace Fellowship and also found out about the event through church.

“It gives them a visual of what others don’t have, so they can be thankful for what they have,” Thomson said of bringing her children to help.

Lt. Denice Martin has only been with the local Salvation Army chapter five months. However, she already had a feel for the impact the meals and clothing giveaway has on the community, especially on a day all about togetherness and giving thanks.

“There are so many people who don’t have families or don’t have the means to get everything for the meal. It’s important for them to have a place to come and have fellowship and a good, solid hot meal,” she said. “The big thing is for them not be shutoff and alone.”